Monthly Archives: February 2015

When you think of myLowes the first thing that comes to mind is that little key tag that cashiers ask to scan each time you make a purchase. However, at one point in time it was envisioned to be more than a shoppers rewards card, it was Iris! We have discovered some early regulatory filings made on behalf of Lowe’s by Alertme.com, the company who designed and built Iris for Lowe’s using their Jupiter platform. These documents offer aninteresting glimpse into the early days before Iris was launched.

These documents provide insight into features that are still not part of Iris including e-mail and SMS control of the alarm system and devices. Other documents include certifications, internal views of the Iris hardware, test reports, and more. We will have additional coverage on those in the near future.

myLowes E-Mail and SMS Control

E-Mail and SMS control is one feature that didn’t make the cut. For example, sending a text message to a phone number is all it would have taken to arm or disarm the alarm or control a Smart Plug. It is unfortunate that E-Mail and SMS control never made it to Iris but only Lowe’s knows why this feature was never implemented. Given the state of computer security it’s likely that Lowe’s deemed insecurely sending PIN numbers through plain text messaging and e-mail was too risky.

You can control and monitor your home via SMS on your cell phone or by using email. Have your PIN handy.

Simply send one of the remote commands (see below) followed by your PIN.

Early myLowes/Iris Thermostat Widget

Thermostat controls have changed considerably since the early myLowes concept as well. Most notable is the absence of the selection of a dedicated Presence mode of operation. The myLowes thermostat control had three methods of operation, Hold, Schedule, and Auto with Auto based on temperature-determined selection of heating and cooling triggered by presence information from the keyfobs.

One feature absent in Lowe’s Iris today is freeze protection. According to the myLowes documentation, even when the heat turned off, the thermostat will turn it on if the house gets too cold.

Q) Won’t my home freeze if I switch the Remote Heating Control to ‘OFF’?

A) Even when your thermostat if off your system will continue to monitor the temperature in your home. If it gets too cold, your system will automatically switch on, ensuring your home does not freeze.

It’s always fun to peek back in time to see how a product or service has changed from it’s inception. In looking back at what Iris was envisioned to be nearly three years ago it is clear that the system has significantly evolved in the time since. As always we will continue our search for insight into Iris; how it works, where it came from, and where it is headed.

Lowe’s today released an update to the Iris iOS app which adds support for the new GE indoor modules and recently released lock scheduling feature. Aside from the usual bug fixes and performance enhancements, the release notes state that it also fixes an issue with secondary contacts logging into the app. This update to 1.9.30 is available in the Apple App store and weighs in at nearly 50MB.

Over the past few months GE has quietly made changes to nearly their entire lineup of Z-Wave control products by updating existing in-wall switches and dimmers, and by introducing ceiling fan controllers along with a line of plug-in dimmers and switches. Many of the refreshed devices bring enhancements like user-changeable colors and support for dimmable CFL and LED bulbs while others just get pretty new packaging and part numbers.

Here is a roundup of the new GE control modules which are supported by Iris…

GE 12724 Smart Dimmer

The revised GE Smart Dimmer adds support for dimmable compact fluorescent (CFL) and LED bulbs and also has a smoother dimming curve than the previous model. The new dimmer comes with both white and light almond paddles and is fully Iris-compatible with the Iris logo printed on the side of the box. Note, this new dimmer now requires both neutral and hot wires be connected to the device, unlike the previous version.

The revised GE Smart Switch now comes with both white and light almond paddles which are easily changed. The GE-branded switch continues to be fully Iris-compatible and has the Iris logo on the side of the box. Aside from being able to change paddle colors the only noticeable difference is in the packaging. As with the last model, this switch requires connections to both hot and neutral wires.

The new, long-awaited GE Smart Fan Control is first Z-Wave ceiling fan control on the market. Like the Smart Switch and Dimmer, the ceiling fan control includes both white and light almond paddles and can also be wired to the GE Auxillary Switch for control from multiple locations. This GE-branded ceiling fan control is Iris-compatible and at the time of this article, hard-to-come-by with limited availability. Note, as with the other GE in-wall devices, both a hot and neutral connection is required.

The revised GE Add-On Switch with updated packaging now comes with both white and light almond paddles and is fully Iris-compatible with the Iris logo on the side of the box. Note, this switch must be connected to an existing Smart Switch, Smart Dimmer, or Smart Ceiling Fan Control and requires a connection to a neutral.

The updated GE Smart Outlet like it’s predecessor, features a single, switchable outlet with a push button for local control plus an always-on outlet. Aside from the Iris-compatible logo on the new packaging, it appears to be identical in every way to the previous device.

The new GE Plug-in Smart Dimmer like its in-wall equivalent, supports up to 600 watts of incandescent as well as dimmable compact fluorescent (CFL) and LED light bulbs. One useful feature of this new device is that it has two outlets; one dimmable, the other always-on so you will never lose a useful outlet. For manual control there is an on/off button located on the front on the device. This new smart switch comes only in white and is fully Iris-compatible.

The new GE Plug-in Smart Switch can control up to 600 watts of incandescent lighting or up to 1800 watts of resistive loads such as heaters. As with its near-identical twin, the Plug-in Smart Dimmer, the Smart Switch has two outlets; one switchable, the other always-on so you will never lose a useful outlet. For manual control there is an on/off button located on the front on the device. This new smart switch comes only in white and is fully Iris-compatible.

The revised GE Plug-in Smart Switch can control up to 600 watts of incandescent lighting or up to 1800 watts of resistive loads such as water pipe heat tape. Aside from the Iris-compatible logo on the new packaging, it appears to be identical in every way to the previous outdoor switch. For manual control there is an on/off button located on the front on the device.